Hulu's Prey Surprises As Being The Best Predator Film Since The Original

       When looking at classic movie franchises, few have experienced an uneven trajectory like that of the Predator franchise. Since the original's 1987 release, its subsequent sequels have attempted to recapture the first movies thrills with mostly disappointing results. Besides Predators 2010, every other follow-up in the iconic sci-fi/action franchise has failed to produce the same kind of critical success as the original. Hulu's Prey aims to buck that trend with the film working as a prequel to the previous films despite being the series fifth installment. Much to the fans surprise, Prey is the Predator film they've long been waiting for with it 

taking the series back to the basics and generating newer thrills. 

      Taking place in the Northern Great Plains in 1719, Prey shows a skilled Comanche warrior (Amber Midthunder) fighting to protect her tribe from a highly evolved alien predator that hunts humans for sport. Prey's plot not only feels fresh but it presents a clever opportunity to reset the overall timeline while reviving the struggling franchise. Without question, Prey stands firm as being the series finest work since the 1987 John McTiernan directed classic with it packing non-stop suspense while never losing sight of its character development, especially when it comes to the films compelling new female lead.

      One of the key drivers of Prey being so engaging to watch is the performances from its main leads. Amber Midthunder carries a strong presence in her breakout role as young Comanche warrior Naru, who fights to protect her tribe against the Predator. Midthunder presents her character as being strong-willed, tough, and calculated as she not only appears to be a worthy opponent to the alien creature, but matches it in strategy with her not allowing herself to make any other noise other than necessary when hiding from the Predator. Her character is bound to become a favorite among franchise fans. Dakota Beavers does equally well as Naru's brother Taabe, whose also revealed to be a skilled hunter. Both actors communicate well together on screen and leave a huge impact on the story with audiences ultimately caring about both their characters. Dane DiLiegro does a fantastic job as the predator with the latter shown to wield primitive versions of advanced weaponry used by other Predators in previous future-set films. The rest of Prey's cast delivers solid performances with Michelle Thrush as Naru and Taabe's mother Aruka, Stormer Kipp as Comanche hunter Wasape, who looks down on Naru, and Julian Black Antelope as Chief Kehetu.

      Directed by Dan Trachtenberg who previously helmed 10 Cloverfield Lane, he delivers a visually stunning landscape for the story that matches the originals look and feel with its jungle setting. The Comanche world is shown in an admirable fashion that screams authenticity. Given the series violent nature, Trachtenberg doesn't hold back in showing the gory violence that's long accompanied the universe. Characters are killed off in extremely bloody and gory ways, including spikes through the skull, arrows to eyes, decapitation, sliced chests, and being mauled by tigers. As for pacing, Prey's story is kept fast-moving while allowing enough time for its main characters to develop throughout the story. The score does a fine job of balancing upbeat adventure with malevolent tension. One of its most effective pieces is Naru's introduction, which sets a powerful tone for her character as well as the story. Besides some moments of spotty CGI which could've been improved if more time was delivered towards doing so, Trachtenberg's work on Prey stands as being the strongest effort delivered by any director of the series since John McTiernan's work on the original. 

      Some of the key themes explored in Prey's script include gender roles, survival, trapping, and the decimating of populations of wild animals. Naru is presented as being skillful and intelligent yet finds herself being held back from being a hunter due to her tribes beliefs regarding a woman's role. Her character is strong and empowering to women, making this the most progressive Predator film yet. The heart of the story lies within the relationship between Naru and her brother Taabe with both finding themselves in a battle for survival against the Predator. The latters brutality is heavily emphasized here with the Predators dispersing of numerous animals in gruesome fashion. What's most rewarding about Prey's script is how fresh its story feels, particularly with exploring an earlier period regarding the Predators arrival on Earth. The Comanche tribe is presented in a way that's respectful and empowering while neglecting all the negative stereotypes that accompanied indigenous people in prior films. Not only are key characters fully fleshed out here but audiences get a sense of satisfaction out of seeing Naru continuously proving her worth to everyone, especially moments where she experiences doubt from others as well as bullying in hopes that she quits and resumes women duties. Prey's script is commendable in how it takes the franchise back to its roots and delivers a female heroine, whom audiences can root for as she outsmarts the Predator. What's most impressive is that it does this while delivering proper representation to those who weren't shown much on film before previously.

      The greatest thrill that one gets from watching Prey is how it works so well as being a prequel to the original classic. Whereas the series has struggled with producing an adequate installment that's worthy of the franchises name, Prey not only does so but breathes new life into a series that fans had nearly written off after the disappointing 2018 sequel. The prequel is a prime example of a legacy story done right while breaking new ground for the series as far as storytelling goes. For Predator fans who've waited decades to see an installment that lives up to the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic, they'll be pleasantly surprised here as Prey delivers adrenaline-filled action while establishing a promising future for the franchise. 

Final Verdict: A Must See

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